I’m doing a light duty bathroom remodel. The owner was tired of the little 32×32 shower stall in the master bathroom and wanted to change it to a 32×60. We just opened up the drywall in the area and found the back of the main panel where we would be framing the new larger shower stall.
Isn’t there a rule against framing a shower stall around a main panel? Are there any techniques that I could use to help pass an inspection – like framing a 2×4 stud wall in front of the back of the panel to help isolate it from an errant nail or screw?
The project is in W. Covina in CA. I would ask the inspector for his take on this, but they are closed on Fridays. By Monday, I was hoping to walk in there with some solutions and not just the problem.
I’m planning on framing a flat 2×4 wall and a bench in front of that wall with the back of the panel. I plan to use Hbacker or a float and then Kerdi over that prior to the tile. There is probably a better chance of water infiltration from the exterior/front side of the panel and wall, but I am paranoid about creating a hazardous situation.
Thanks in advance!
Edited 9/19/2008 12:47 pm ET by RC
Replies
No rule against it that I know of. Just cannot block access in front of the panel, 36" area in front. Main panel cannot be IN A BATHROOM
Thanks for the reply! At least I'll have a little confidence when I go in and talk with the man.
I dont know if there are restrictions or not but common sense should be enough to make you take the extra precautions
I like your idea of framing a separate wall leaving a gap between the two walls, then overkill the plastic barriers
also think about the proximity of your plumbing rough in.
Yeah, consider the danger of both leakage through the shower wall and a malfunction of the shower control or spray head that sprays water back into the wall.
There is no absurdity that human beings will not resort to in order to defend another absurdity. -- Cicero
I'd get the creeps every time I used the shower. if thats not bad enough think about the liability
in my own house the goose neck broke off where the nipple screws into the elbow. there was a flood in the basement long before I knew about it. freak things like that can happen. in his situation things could get really nasty